The issue of whether Jordan will get 14 surface-to-air “Hawk” missile systems or fewer from the United States is between the government of Jordan and the U.S. Congress and not between the Ford Administration and Congress, Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger said today at a news conference.
He said he was prepared to discuss with the Congress “a formula to ease their concern” over providing the missiles, but he pointed out that Jordan’s King Hussein “won’t compromise on numbers.” Kissinger indicated that the Administration is going along with him as previously on the number but that a compromise may be made on “deliveries and deployment” and that is now being considered. “The compromise must be acceptable to Jordan,” he said.
The Administration’s request two months ago to Congress for authority to provide the systems was dropped when, on July 24, the House International Relations Committee opposed it. However, the Administration again proposed that Jordan get all 14 and it is now back in the House Committee. Capitol sources told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that “sentiment has changed” in the Committee and more members now favor providing Jordan with the systems.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
